View Intelligence Dossier Back to 1997 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 11, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

6.67 million (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

large, well-equipped system by African standards, but barely adequate and poorly maintained by modern standards domestic: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, radiotelephone communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

77,215 (1983 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

2.06 million (1992 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

cotton, groundnuts, sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sesame; sheep

Budget [time series]

revenues: $382 million expenditures: $1.06 billion, including capital expenditures of $91 million (1995 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Sudanese pound (£Sd) = 100 piastres

Debt - external [time series]

$18.5 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient : ODA, $387 million (1993)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Sudan is buffeted by civil war, chronic political instability, adverse weather, high inflation, a drop in remittances from abroad, and counterproductive economic policies. The private sector's main areas of activity are agriculture and trading, with most private industrial investment predating 1980. Agriculture employs 80% of the work force. Industry mainly processes agricultural items. Sluggish economic performance over the past decade, attributable largely to declining annual rainfall, has kept per capita income at low levels. A large foreign debt and huge arrearages continue to cause difficulties. In 1990 the International Monetary Fund took the unusual step of declaring Sudan noncooperative because of its nonpayment of arrearages to the Fund. After Sudan backtracked on promised reforms in 1992-93, the IMF threatened to expel Sudan from the Fund. To avoid expulsion, Khartoum agreed to make payments on its arrears to the Fund, liberalize exchange rates, and reduce subsidies, measures it has partially implemented. The government's continued prosecution of the civil war and its growing international isolation continued to inhibit growth in the nonagricultural sectors of the economy during 1996. Hyperinflation has raised consumer prices above the reach of most. Popular unrest erupted several times in 1996 in reaction to unpopular government economic decisions.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

500,000 kW (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

37 kWh (1994 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.3 billion kWh (1994)

Exchange rates [time series]

Sudanese pounds (£Sd) per US$1 - official rate: 1,454.0 (December 1996), 750.0 (November 1995), 277.8 (1994), 153.8 (1993), 69.4 (1992); market rate: 1,4600.00 (January 1997), 1,250.79 (1996), 571.02 (August 1995), 289.61 (1994), 159.31 (1993), 97.43 (1992) note : the market rate is a unified exchange rate determined by a committee of local bankers, without official intervention, and is quoted uniformly by all commercial banks

Exports [time series]

total value: $500 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: cotton 44%, livestock/meat 13%, gum arabic 11%, sesame 10% partners : Egypt 33.3%, Saudi Arabia 16.6%, Japan 13.4%, Italy 12% (1995)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year note: prior to July 1995, Sudan had a fiscal year that began on 1 July and ended on 30 June; as a transition to their new fiscal year, a six-month budget was implemented for 1 July - 31 December 1995; the new calendar year (1 January - 31 December) fiscal year became effective 1 January 1996

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $26.6 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 33% industry : 17% services: 50% (1992 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $860 (1996 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

4% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $1 billion (1996 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum products, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, medicines and chemicals, textiles partners : EU 29.4%, US 17.6%, Saudi Arabia 8.7%, Egypt 6.3% (1995)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

6.8% (FY92/93 est.)

Industries [time series]

cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

133% (1996 est.)

Labor force [time series]

total: 11 million (1996 est.) by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 10%, government 6% note: labor shortages for almost all categories of skilled employment (1983 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

30% (FY92/93 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 2,505,810 sq km land: 2.376 million sq km water : 129,810 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US

Climate [time series]

tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season (April to October)

Coastline [time series]

853 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point : Red Sea 0 m highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

15 00 N, 30 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its tributaries

Irrigated land [time series]

19,460 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total : 7,687 km border countries: Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 628 km, Egypt 1,273 km, Eritrea 605 km, Ethiopia 1,606 km, Kenya 232 km, Libya 383 km, Uganda 435 km

Land use [time series]

arable land : 5% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 19% other: 30% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

contiguous zone : 18 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

dust storms

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold

Terrain [time series]

generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in east and west

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

26 states (wilayat, singular - wilayat or wilayah*); A'ali an Nil, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrat, Al Jazirah, Al Khartum, Al Qadarif, Al Wahdah, An Nil al Abyad, An Nil al Azraq, Ash Shamaliyah*, Bahr al Jabal, Gharb al Istiwa'iyah, Gharb Bahr al Ghazal, Gharb Darfur, Gharb Kurdufan, Janub Darfur, Janub Kurdufan, Junqali, Kassala, Nahr an Nil, Shamal Bahr al Ghazal, Shamal Darfur, Shamal Kurdufan, Sharq al Istiwa'iyah, Sinnar, Warab

Constitution [time series]

12 April 1973, suspended following coup of 6 April 1985; interim constitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following coup of 30 June 1989; new constitution to be drafted following national elections held in March 1996

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan conventional short form: Sudan local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan local short form: As-Sudan former : Anglo-Egyptian Sudan

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

operations in Khartoum were suspended in February 1996; Ambassador to Sudan Timothy M. CARNEY and several members of the mission have relocated to Nairobi, Kenya and operate out of the US Embassy there; the embassy is located at the corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue; mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831; telephone: [254] (2) 334141; FAX: [254] (2) 340838

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Mahdi Ibrahim MOHAMED chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 338-8565 through 8570

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state : President Lt. General Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Major General al-Zubayr Muhammad SALIH (since 19 October 1993), Second Vice President (Police) Maj. General George KONGOR AROP (since NA February 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government : President Lt. General Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Major General al-Zubayr Muhammad SALIH (since 19 October 1993), Second Vice President (Police) Maj. General George KONGOR AROP (since NA February 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet : Cabinet appointed by the president; note - President al-BASHIR's government is dominated by members of Sudan's National Islamic Front, a fundamentalist political organization formed from the Muslim Brotherhood in 1986; front leader Hasan al-TURABI dominates much of Khartoum's overall domestic and foreign policies; President al-BASHIR named a new cabinet on 20 April 1996 which includes members of the National Islamic Front, serving and retired military offficers, and civilian technocrats elections : president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 6-17 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR elected president; percent of vote - Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR 75.7%; note - about forty other candidates ran for president note : al-BASHIR, as chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation (RCC), assumed power on 30 June 1989 and served concurrently as chief of state, chairman of the RCC, prime minister, and minister of defense until 16 October 1993 when he was appointed president by the RCC; upon its dissolution on 16 October 1993, the RCC's executive and legislative powers were devolved to the president and the Transitional National Assembly (TNA), Sudan's appointed legislative body, which has since been replaced by the National Assembly which was elected in March 1996

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 667-2406 consulate(s) general: New York

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side

Government type [time series]

transitional - previously ruling military junta; presidential and National Assembly elections held in March 1996; new constitution to be drafted by the National Assembly

Independence [time series]

1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court; Special Revolutionary Courts

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20 January 1991, the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic law in the northern states; Islamic law applies to all residents of the northern states regardless of their religion; some separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly (400 seats; 275 elected by popular vote, 125 elected by a supraassembly of interest groups known as the National Congress; members serve four-year terms) elections : last held 6-17 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: NA; the March 1996 elections were held on a nonparty basis; parties are banned in the new National Assembly

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Khartoum

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 1 January (1956)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

none; banned following 30 June 1989 coup

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

National Islamic Front, Hasan al-TURABI

Suffrage [time series]

NA years of age; universal, but noncompulsory

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force, Popular Defense Force Militia

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$NA

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

NA%

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 7,437,363 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males: 4,576,117 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 341,516 (1997 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 46% (male 7,584,401; female 7,271,175) 15-64 years: 52% (male 8,536,476; female 8,492,043) 65 years and over : 2% (male 398,591; female 311,442) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

40.54 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

11.16 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

74.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English note: program of Arabization in process

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 55.54 years male: 54.6 years female: 56.53 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 46.1% male: 57.7% female: 34.6% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Sudanese (singular and plural) adjective: Sudanese

Net migration rate [time series]

1.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

32,594,128 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.06% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), indigenous beliefs 25%, Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.28 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.79 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

administrative boundary with Kenya does not coincide with international boundary; administrative boundary with Egypt does not coincide with international boundary creating the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km SURINAME

Transportation

Airports [time series]

56 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 20 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 under 914 m: 8 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m : 24 (1996 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total : 11,610 km paved: 4,203 km unpaved: 7,407 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 37,359 GRT/49,422 DWT ships by type: cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1996 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

refined products 815 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Juba, Khartoum, Kusti, Malakal, Nimule, Port Sudan, Sawakin

Railways [time series]

total: 5,516 km narrow gauge: 4,800 km 1.067-m gauge; 716 km 1.6096-m gauge plantation line

Waterways [time series]

5,310 km navigable